What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Engagement Specialist - JDC position at State of South Carolina?
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).
MISSION:
It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Youth Engagement Specialist is a member of the Facility Programming Team. The primary responsibility of this role is to provide assistance to DJJ youth and staff regarding a youth's negative behavior, recreation opportunities, counseling, and group facilitation for assigned youth.
This position will provide service to the entire campus and assist youth in crisis situations and the Intensive Treatment Unit when needed. This position will also respond to calls from DJJ staff to intervene with disruptive youth who otherwise require one-to-one intervention & supervision as this service will assist in reducing the agency's use of isolation. The position will also provide recreation movement to ensure each youth is receiving their daily required large muscle exercise.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides prompt responses to calls for assistance and provides direct behavioral de-escalation, re-direction, and intervention to youth who exhibit resistant, uncooperative, and disruptive behavior.
Provides assistance on the Pods with assigned youth as deemed appropriate by providing line of sight and one to one supervision of youth who are acting out behaviorally or at risk of harm to self or others.
Assists with providing direct services to youth through mentoring and co-facilitation of social skills groups.
Develops and facilitates a recreation/activity calendar for youth in the secure facility and ensures that all service notes for all activities are completed in a timely manner.
Assists in supervising institutional programs and activities and ensures that safety and security measures and procedures are utilized at all times.
Collaborates and consults with DJJ staff and administration in the ongoing development and implementation of behavioral strategies and management practices that incorporate methods supported by evidenced based research.
Develops and maintains strong working relationships with each Pod, assigned school, and clinical staff.
Develops and creates opportunities to relate to youth in a positive and reinforcing manner, establishing relationships of trust and support for both staff and youth.
Enforces the Legacy behavior management system on the Pods.
Conducts follow up observations of youth interactions with staff and peers; assists management in assessing the effectiveness of the behavior management system that will promote youth success.
Provides feedback to management and individual staff as it relates to fidelity checks with Legacy system.
Maintains a working understanding of the least restrictive alternatives to isolation or room confinement.
Observes and prepares reports regarding youths' behaviors; recommends positive behavior strategies and ongoing support plans to be implemented by unit and other staff.
Confers with clinical, school, and institutional DJJ staff to assist in developing effective behavior intervention plans and behavior contracts for individual youth; helps ensure those plans are being carried out effectively; provides training as requested for institutional and other staff on implementation of behavioral management practices.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.
STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to be certified as an SCDJJ officer.
Must have experience in a setting using crisis negotiation, stabilization, and/or behavioral de-escalation techniques.
Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including nights and/or weekends, and be able for on-call duties as required.
Must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
Must be able to act independently, have sound decision making skills.
Remain calm in a crisis and obtain supervision when in doubt.
Essential Position that is under general supervision; work reviewed by supervisor on a daily basis; annually scheduled performance reviews.
Will be required to work any day or shift and stay over if necessary.
This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the department of juvenile justice, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the department of juvenile justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.
Must be able to walk and lift 25lbs.
Must be able to work with incarcerated youth in a secure setting.
A bachelor's degree in criminal justice or social science and 1-year work experience working with troubled at-risk youth. Significant experience in behavior resolution/negotiation and/or behavioral de-escalation may be considered in lieu of educational criteria as approved by State Human Resources. Also experience in providing recreation. Must possess a valid and acceptable driver's license to operate a state vehicle.
The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health, dental, and life insurance
- 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
- 15 days of sick leave per year
- 13 paid holidays
- State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
- Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave
Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date.
You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing may be required. Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.
Salary : $37,860 - $70,054
